Lily plant: Lilium `Showboat`

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Asiatic hybrid lily plant bearing large clusters of medium-sized flowers of excellent form, strong color, and long persistence, both on the plant and as a cut flower; the flowers of the new plant being particularly characterized by their deep blood red color which is unique in the division of hybrid lilies to which the plant belongs. The plant is a good propagator, highly resistant to disease, and tolerant to virus. It is a good grower and excellent when precooled bulbs are forced out of season.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

My new variety of lily plant originated as a seedling selected from agroup of seedlings at Gresham, Oreg. The seedlings were planted as apart of a breeding program carried on by me since the year 1965. Thisprogram had as its objective the production of upright Asiatic lilieshaving an intense red color, heretofore unknown in this division ofhybrid lilies.

I achieved the desired objective by using as a seed parent Lilium X`Sunspot` and as the pollen parent Lilium X `Byam's Ruby`.

This new lily plant is characterized by a flower of the deepest, mostintense blood red color in the division of genus Lilium to which itbelongs. In this respect it is vastly superior to such lily varieties asLilium `Tabasco` and Lilium `Cinnabar`. Its color is one of the mostintense yet seen in non-pendant lilies, and, unlike most scarlet lilies,its appearance is not altered by artificial light. The flowers arelarge, having a diameter of about 6 inches and grow in clusters ofnumerous blooms. They hold their color until the tepals drop.

In addition, the plant is a good propagator, highly resistant to diseaseand tolerant to virus infection. It possesses all of the desiredcharacteristics of excellence of form, color and habit. The clone isvigorous and a good grower and propagator, as observed at Gresham, Oreg.

My new variety of lily plant has been asexually reproduced by me andunder my direction at Gresham, Oreg. Successive generations produced bybulb scale reproduction and natural propagation from bulblets havedemonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of my newvariety are fixed and hold true from generation to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new variety of lily plant is illustrated in the accompanyingphotographic drawing which shows the open bloom in full color andillustrates the flower form, the tepal arrangement, the connection ofthe flowers to the stalk and in particular the novel and distinctiveintense blood red color tone of the flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of Asiatichybrid lily, with nomenclature according to The International LilyRegister (Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2nd edition, 1969), andwith color designations according to the Royal Horticultural SocietyColor Chart, published by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1966.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Lilium X `Sunspot` clone (unpatented).

Pollen parent.--Lilium X `Byam's Ruby` (unpatented).

Classification:

Botanic.--Lilium hybrid clone; Division I-A of classification Lilium.

Commercial.--Asiatic hybrid lily.

Form: Single stem, erect and stately.

Height: 20 to 25 inches.

Growth: Vigorous and upright.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Size of leaf.--3 to 4 inches long.

Shape of leaf.--Lanceolate.

Texture.--Glossy.

Color.--Upper and undersides both dark green with reddish infusion.

Bulbs:

Size.--Any size ranging up to 10 inches in circumference.

Color.--Reddish, especially upon exposure to light.

THE BUD

Form: Obtuse, urn-shaped and long.

Size: 2 to 3 inches long and 11/2 inches in circumference at maturity.

Opening: Bud opens slowly.

Color: Deep blood red when tepals first divide and also when tepalsbegin to unfurl.

Tepals: Deep blood red both inside and outside.

Peduncle: 2 inches long; slightly hairy; erect; deep green in color.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent, Blooms once and profusely, annually in midseason.

Size: Medium; about 6 inches in diameter.

Borne: In clusters, from 6 to 12 on a single stem.

Shape: Cup shaped when bloom first opens; flower reflexes to almost flatshape as it ages.

Tepalage:

Number of tepals.--6.

Arrangement.--Imbricated.

Color.--Deepest blood red R.H.S. C.C.46A-B substantially entirely acrossthe tepal surfaces; white pubescence along margins of nectaries.

Tepal longevity.--Tepals stay on stem about 3 weeks.

Pedicel:

Length.--2 inches.

Color.--Deepest green with reddish tinge.

Form.--Pedicel is sturdy and upright.

Color permanence: Flowers hold color until tepals drop.

Appearance: The flower is shiny.

Disease resistance: The plant and flower are resistant to disease; inparticular, they are resistant to Fusarium and Botrytis.

Fragrance: The flower is not fragrant.

Lasting quality: The flower is long lasting both on the plant and as acut flower.

THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens, anthers:

Arrangement.--Typical of Liliaceae.

Length.--2 inches.

Number.--6.

Filaments.--Length, 2 inches; color, cream.

Pollen and anthers: Dark reddish-brown in color.

Pistils: One in number with a length of about 2 inches.

Stigma: Dark red in color.

Characteristics of ovaries: Typical of genus Lilium.

FRUIT

Fertility: The fruit is fertile.

Shape: The fruit is ovoid in shape.

Color at maturity: The fruit is soft brown at maturity.

My new variety of Asiatic hybrid lily is unique. It does not resembleany other lily in its class.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive variety of Asiatic hybrid lily plantsubstantially as herein shown and described, characterized by its highresistance to disease, its tolerance to virus, the vigorous growth andpropagation characteristics of its clone; its versatility both as agarden plant and a plant produced from precooled bulbs forced for cutflower and pot plant; its erect and stately form; the excellence of itsflower form; and particularly by the intense blood red color of itsflowers.